You’ve made the leap abroad. Your days have fallen into routine: start early into shifts, send money back home while supporting family. And maybe carving out time for your personal dreams on weekends. You’re constantly in motion. But pause for a moment: are you truly productive, or just busy?
In diaspora life, where time is scarce and responsibilities stack up fast, sheer effort isn’t enough. What matters is where your energy goes. Not every task deserves equal attention, and not every hustle leads to progress.
That’s where the Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 rule, becomes a game-changer. It reminds us that 80% of our results often come from just 20% of our efforts. When you focus on what truly moves the needle, your journey abroad becomes not just sustainable, but transformative.
Learn to Work Smarter
When Jumoke moved from Lagos to London to pursue a tech career, she dove in with full zeal. She worked full-time as a junior developer, while spending weekends teaching coding to kids at her church. It was a demanding schedule, and the weight of both commitments began to take its toll.
But in the midst of exhaustion, Jumoke had a revelation. Her weekend classes, though just a small slice of her time, brought her the deepest sense of fulfilment. The kids trusted her and the community valued her.
When she mapped out her week, she discovered those coding sessions made up only 20% of her effort, yet they delivered 80% of her joy, impact, and even side income.
So, she made bold choices. She transformed her weekend teaching into an online coding academy for African diaspora children. She streamlined her work responsibilities, and gracefully stepped back from community events that didn’t resonate deeply with her.
Six months later, her academy was generating a third of her salary. Jumoke had learned a powerful truth: growth comes from doing fewer, high-impact things, rather than doing more mundane tasks.
Pareto Principle Is Key
Life abroad often comes with an endless to-do list—work, family, side hustles, community commitments. But the truth is, not everything deserves your energy. When you focus on the “vital few,” start going deeper where it truly matters.
This intentional focus creates space for vision. Without the constant weight of busywork, your mind opens up, and you start imagining new possibilities: launching a side hustle, making smart investments, or mentoring others in your community. Clarity breeds creativity.
It also builds a more sustainable rhythm. You don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to make progress. By cutting back on low-impact tasks, you reclaim time for rest, family, and mental health—essentials for thriving, not just surviving.
Apply the Pareto Principle
Living abroad often means juggling countless responsibilities—work, family, community, and personal dreams. But to thrive, not just survive, you need to be intentional with your time. Here’s how to apply the Pareto principle and align your schedule with what truly matters.
Start by listing everything you do in a typical week. Be honest and thorough—include work shifts, sending money home, church travel, community events, and side projects. Seeing it all laid out helps you understand where your energy is going.
Next, identify the few tasks that bring the most results or joy. For Jumoke, it was teaching coding to diaspora kids. For you, it might be mentoring youth, coaching others, or investing back home. These high-impact activities often carry deep cultural significance and ripple far beyond your immediate circle.
Then, prioritize ruthlessly. Schedule your vital tasks first and be willing to delegate, defer, or eliminate the rest—even if it means saying “no” to family requests or social invitations. In many cultures, saying “no” feels uncomfortable. But here, it’s protecting your purpose-driven time.
Look for ways to delegate or automate. Use tools to manage errands, admin, or repetitive communication. Tap into your community—church mums, WhatsApp groups, diaspora networks. Help is often closer than you think.
Finally, review your schedule monthly. Ask yourself: what’s still giving value? What’s draining me? Purpose evolves, and your priorities will too. Adjust with grace, knowing that each shift brings you closer to a life of intention and impact.
Do Less, Achieve More
The Pareto principle isn’t about being lazy—it’s about being intentional. For Nigerians abroad, when time is one of your most limited resources, choosing wisely becomes an act of strategy.
Just like Jumoke, you can reallocate time from low-value tasks into work that builds income, community, and legacy. That’s how you achieve more by doing less—and still live well.
What is your top “80% result” activity? What tasks are you ready to eliminate or delegate?
Share your priorities in the comments—your clarity might spark someone else’s shift.
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